AN ENHANCED movement control order is not on the table for Sarawak’s Covid-19 hot beds, including Kuching and Samarahan, said state Tourism and Arts Minister Abdul Karim Hamzah.

According to Karim, giving the daily media briefing in place of quarantined Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah, said the situation was not critical.

The state today recorded one more Covid-19 death with 15 new positive cases.

There were no deaths reported yesterday but 28 people had been infected in previous 24 hours.

Kuching division is the only red zone area in Sarawak, with 40 or more cases, while Samarahan is in the orange zone with 18.

Apart from the populated major urban centres like Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu Miri, Limbang and Lawas, a large swathe of the state’s rural communities have yet to record even a single case.

“The situation is well under control and there is nothing to suggest an enhanced movement control order or a total lockdown are needed just yet,” Karim said.

However, the minister would not dismiss the possibility that it could be introduced to curb the spread of the virus.

“If there is a need for a specific area to be under total lockdown, we will do it.”

The confirmation of the death, a 56-year-old man from Kg Demak Baru, means 10 people in Sarawak have died from Covid-19.

Karim said the man was admitted to Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, on March 30 and tested positive on April 1.

He died at 4.16pm yesterday.

All the 15 new positive cases were detected in Kuching, Karim said, and that brings the total in the state to 254.

All were admitted to the SGH for treatment and isolation.

The pandemic has also taken a heavy toll on the state cabinet with two, out of three deputy chief ministers, and two ministers in isolation.

Aside from Uggah and Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Housing and Local Government Minister Dr Sim Kui Hian and Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah have been ordered to go into quarantine after coming into close contact with an infected person during food supply and distribution meeting on March 27.

Assistant Transport Minister Dr Jeip Susil and Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang have also tested positive for the virus. – April 4, 2020.